Max Sanders said he can’t wait to be back playing in a Wimbledon shirt after making a loan switch from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
After playing for our academy as a young boy, Max knows all about the remarkable AFC Wimbledon story.
“I joined when I was six and I played for the Under-6 team and the Under-7s," said Max. "I have a bit of history with the club. My Dad grew up around here and he brought me to the club because it was a good level. I got scouted by Brighton at eight so I went there, but to be back here now is just a fairytale. I cannot wait to play here this season. I think I will have a great bond with the club.
“I know the story as I was told about it when I was young. I know that it’s a great club and about its history, including how much the fans are so involved in the club. It’s a good environment to come into and I just want to have that bond with the fans, I can’t wait.”
Now 20 years of age, Max has honed his midfield skills during his rise through the Brighton ranks and he’s also represented England Under-19s.
“I have been at Brighton since I was eight, so I’ve seen the club progress. The facilities now are unbelievable. I’ve been captain of the Under-23s for two seasons now and we got promoted. I got called up by England and I played for the Under-19s at the European Championships. That was a great experience. Brighton has been brilliant for me. It’s great to be playing for them, but coming here is the next step in my career. Success at Brighton has been great and I can’t wait for success here as well. You need to know when the time is right and the right club to go to. As soon as I heard about interest from here, I just wanted to come.
“I’m a very technical midfielder: passing, vision, being able to score and create goals. I can play as a deep lying midfielder, box-to-box, or even number 10, so I’m quite versatile. I want the ball all the time, I get on the ball a lot. I am a ball-playing central midfielder I would say.”
Click on the link below for an extensive interview with Max. All three of Rob Cornell's interviews with our deadline day signings - Ryan Delaney and Marcus Forss also signed yesterday - can be viewed below.